In the structuring of the project South Stream there are no violations of the law of the European Union, says Bulgaria’s position, which was adopted last week at a meeting of the Cabinet and will be sent to Brussels in response to the ongoing penal proceedings.
The agreement concluded in 2008 granted exclusive rights, concession or a public contract to the South Stream Bulgaria AD for the design, financing, construction and operation of the pipeline which will be owned by the company. The setting up of the company took place by a government decision in 2010. It did not violate the provisions of EU law. Regarding the award of contracts to the company, the process did not violate the principles against discrimination and transparency and the ruled applied by the South Stream Bulgaria are in accordance with those principles, the government said.
The letter of the European Commission to Bulgaria, which started the penal proceedings have raised three questions. Expressed are concerns about possible violations in determining the company’s designer, operator and owner of the pipeline, also of Bulgaria competence to conclude an agreement with Russia for the project South Stream and the procurement procedure commissioning the project to South Stream Bulgaria.
Meanwhile, in Vienna, at the signing of an agreement with the Austrian OMV for the construction of the Austrian section of the pipeline to the gas hub in Baumgarten, President of the Management Board of Gazprom Alexei Miller said that the company was holding constructive talks with the European Commission on disputed gas pipeline South Stream and the problems will be solved. The document was initialed during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Austria. Putin himself said that the U.S. will do anything to derail the project South Stream and it was a battle between the two super states.
The BANKER
